Base-making machine.



PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

A. SWAN.

BASE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILEDMARJI, 1903.

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No. 796,470. PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

A A. SWAN.

BASE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. 11,1908.

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PATENTED AUG. 8, 1905.

A. SWAN. v BASE MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED IAR.11,1903- 3 SHBETSSHEBT 3.

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Witnesses.

Inventor. fllfred Swan,

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED SWAN, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

' BASE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 8, 1905.

Applicatio filed March 11, 1903. $e1'ial No. 147,250.

7") (.tZZ whom, it ntcty concern:

Be it known that I, ALFRED SWAN, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing 1n the city, county, and State of New York, have in-- vented certain new and useful Improvements in Base-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to glass-molding machines, such as that described in my application, Serial No. 52,707, filed on or about March 25, 1901, the objectof which is the manufacture of bases for incandescent lamps having a molded. glass joint between the several contacts, forming a waterproof and moistureproof joint of high insulating power and great mechanical strength. This is applicable to all types of lamp-bases in commercial use. The contacts are placed in molds. carriedby a rotatable head in the proper relative position, and this head is intermittently rotated, allowing the molds to come successively under a continuously-flowing stream of molten glass. Each mold is caused to dwell under the stream for a predetermined time, so that it receives a definite quantity of molten glass, and is then shifted under a plunger. The plunger is operated to compress the material in the mold into the desired form while the following mold is receiving its charge. By having the molten material flow in a continuous stream the supply is uniform, as no cooling and consequent clogging occurs at the out let of the glass reservoir. This type of machine was shown in my prior application above referred to.

My present invention relates to improve ments therein, which will be fully described hereinafter and definitely pointed out in the appended claims.

The improvements involve simplifying the operating mechanism, protecting the dies against damage by the great heat, and making a more perfect and uniform product. For example, I have found that the great heat of the melted glass destroys the dies, and I protect them by a water-jacket of special design. I also insure a perfect opening for the lamp-leads through the contacts by a special punch after the glass has been cooled. I also I employ compressed air to eject the finished bases from the molds. I also provide for cutting away strings of glass from the bases. Further, I accurately adjust the quantity of glass delivered to each base by varying the speed of the machine according to the fluidity of the glass stream, thereby fixing the pause or dwell of the mold in the stream at the exact point necessary, notwithstanding variation in the furnace to insure a perfectly uniform product.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to show an embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved base-making machine, showing the furnace and glass-reservoir in section. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is adiagram of the circuits through the driving-motor. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the head and table broken away in part to show the intermittent gear. Fig. 5 is a section of one of the molds. Fig. 6 is a section of the eyelet-punch. Fig. 7 is an enlarged elevation of the head of the punch. Fig. 8 is a sectional elevation of the plunger; and Figs. 9, 10, and 11 are plan views of the ejector, plunger, and press-plate cams, respectively.

Referring to Fig. 1, 1 is the furnace, made of fire-brick or other refractory material and supported on standards 2 2. Within the furnace is a reservoir 3, in which the glass is reduced to a molten state. The furnace is heated by burners4 4, which extend through apertures in its sides and which are fed by air and gas pipes 5 5 and 6 6, respectively. In the bottom of the reservoir is a small bore 7, enlarged at its upper end, through which a small stream of molten glass flows continuously. Below the furnace is a table 8, supported on uprights 9 9 and having a shelf 10. Mounted in bearings on the shelf 10 is a shaft 11, on which is keyed the worm-wheel 12. In mesh with worm-wheel 12 is a worm 13, mounted on a shaft 14, which is driven by the motor 27 by means of belt 34 and fast and loose pulleys 35 35. On the end of shaft 11 is a bevel-gear 15 in mesh with bevel-gear 16 on vertical shaft 17, which is mounted in bearings 18 18 on the shelf 10 and the under side of the table 8. Mounted directly above shaft 11 in a suitable bearing 19 is the vertical shaft 20, extending upward through the table 8. To the upper end of shaft 20 is secured the head 21, carrying a plurality of molds 22eight in this case. Mounted on the shaft 17 is an arm 23, carrying a stud 24, and directly above arm 23 is secured a plate 25 in the form of a disk broken away on the side adjacent to the stud 24. Mounted on shaft is a notched wheel 26. This organization, Fig. 4, constitutes an intermittent gear of the Geneva type by which the single tooth 24 engages the notched wheel 26 once each revolution, pushes it through a definite angle, and then looks it for the balance of its own cycle. The head 21 is secured to the shaft 20 in such a position that when the intermittent gear is locked in position one of the molds 22 is directly under the aperture 7 of the-glass-reservoir. This intermittent gear for turning the head from one position to the next possesses many advantages over the clutches formerly used, as it gives a smooth positive movement unaccompanied by shocks and jars. The product of this machine is therefore a more perfect base, and loss by breakage caused by sharp starts and stops is entirely eliminated.

One of the molds carried by the head 21 is shown in section in Fig. 5. It consists of a cylindrical chamber 28, closed at the bottom by a die 29, which conforms in shape to the bottom of the finished base. The depression in this die makes the center contact of the base self-centering, and there is a bore 30 in the die alining with the eyelet. The die 29 is normally depressed by a spring 31 to a depth almost equal to the height of the shell contact, and in the bottom of head 21 are small openings 32, into which the pins 33 33 are adapted to be inserted to raise the die 29 and the finished base to the top of the mold. This is an improvement on my earlier type of machine above referred to in that it dispenses with the pins which confined the shell, which were heated and sometimes bent in the operation of the machine. The pins 33 33 are shifted by a cam 36, (shown in Fig. 9,) carried by shaft 11. A roller carried by a rod 37 runs in the cam-groove and operates a pivoted lever to raise and lower the pins 33 33 twice during each revolution of shaft 11. Between the molds the edge of head 21 is beveled off to deflect the glass that falls while the head is rotating.

Two levers 38 and 39 are pivotally mounted on the shelf 10 of the table 8 and carry rollers which run in the grooves of earns 40 and 41, respectively, mounted on shaft 11. To the end of lever 38 is pivoted the vertical rod 42,to the upper end of which is secured the arm 43, carrying the plunger 44, which is adjusted in the arm and then locked in position by the nut 45. Rod 46 is similarly pivoted to lever 39, and to its upper end is secured the press-plate 47,-in the outer end of which is a bore in which the plunger 44 can move freely. The plunger and press-plate cams 40 and 41 are shown in Figs. 10 and 11. The cam-grooves have a somewhat different shape, so that the press-plate is drawn over the shell before the plunger enters the molten material and pauses in that position until the plunger is withdrawn, thus holding the shell in place while the plunger is operating on it and preventing it from sticking to the plunger while the latter is being withdrawn. The plunger 44, as shown in Fig. 8, is hollow and has a hard steel point 48 set in its lower end, the shape of the end being the shape desired for the inside of the base, the point serving to penetrate the hollow center contact curling its edge outwardly against the hot glass and leaving a thin film of glass which may be easily punctured. Mounted within the hollow plunger is a tube 49, connecting with an opening 50 near the top and extending almost to the lower end of the plunger. A second opening 51 connects with the interior of the plunger near the top. To the top of the plunger 44 is secured the arm 52, which carries at its end the punch 53, overhanging each mold during the pause following that in which the die acted upon that mold. The punch descends with the plunger and punctures the film or residue of glass in the eyelet while the plunger is forming the material in the next preceding mold. The construction of the punch is shown in Figs. 6 and 7. It consists of an inverted cup which fits over the mold and cuts off any strings of glass that may have fallen over the rim of the mold while it was being withdrawn from the stream. Within the cup is a tube 54, carrying a punch head 55 and having small openings near its lower end. On the punch-head are projections 56, against which a collar 57, which is slightly larger in diameter than the shell contact, is pressed by a spring 58. Grooves 59 are cut in the head, leading from the openings in the tube down to the end of the head, where a pin is inserted. The collar 57 when pressed down by the spring covers the openings in the tube; but when the punch is lowered the collar impinges upon the shell in the mold, and as the pin 65 descends the collar is pressed back until the openings are uncovered. Collar 57 thus bears with spring-pressure against the shell and holds it firmly while pin 65 is clearing the contact of glass and also while the pin is being withdrawn.

Mounted on the table 8 is an air-cooler 60, comprising a cylindrical chamber in which there is a coil of water-cooled air-pipes and inlet and outlet connections. Water enters the cooler near the bottom by tube 64 and passing through the chamber cools the air in the pipes and passes out at the top, from which it flows by the flexible connection 61 to the plunger 44 through opening 50. In the plunger it is carried by the tube 49 directly against the steel point of the plunger, preventing the latter from being excessively heated by contact with the molten glass. The water then flows up through the plunger and out through the outlet 51. Compressed air from any suitable source is led into the coil of pipes of the cooler by pipe 66, and from there after being cooled it passes by the flexible connection 62 to the tube 54 of punch 53. T/Vhen the punch enters the mold and collar 57 is pressed back, cold air escapes and is carried by the grooves down around the pin of the punch, cooling the inner surface of the molded glass and making the glass in the eyelet hard and brittle, so that it is easily punched out by the pin 65. The current of cold air also serves to cool the pin 65, which otherwise would become heated by its proximity tothe hot glass and be easily bent. Another pipe 63, connected with the source of compressed air, leads to the mold in advance of the one on which the punch is operating and terminates in a nozzle 67. When the pins 33 33 raise the completed base above the rim of the mold, the air-blast issuing from v the nozzle blows the base into a basket or box placed in a convenient position.

While I have shown the bevel-gear 15 with twice as many teeth as gear 16 and all the cams duplex, it is evident that gears with the same number of teeth could be used and single cams.

The construction here described admits of very accurate regulation of the charge of molten glass received by each mold. The amount of glass received by the mold depends on the dwell of the mold under the glass stream, which in turn depends on the speed at which the machine is running. Therefore by varying the speed of the machine the charge can be quickly and accurately varied at will or maintained uniform throughout changes in the fluidity of the molten material. This can be conveniently done by employing a shunt-wound motor to drive the machine with a rheostat in the field-circuit, as indicated in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The steps on the rheostat can be arranged to give small variations in the speed of the machine, and hence in the dwell of each mold in the stream, thus permitting close regulation.

The operation of the machine is as follows:

The reservoir 3 of the furnace is filled with glass, and the heat from the burners 4 4 reduces the glass to a molten state. When a small stream of molten glass flows continuously from the aperture 7 in the bottom of the reservoir, the machine is ready for operation. The shaft 11 is driven from the powershaft 14 by worm 13 and worm-Wheel 12 and by means of bevel-gears 15 and 16 drives the vertical shaft 17. The tooth 24 once each revolution turns the gear-wheel 26 through a definite interval and then locks it during the balance of its cycle, when it engages another notch of the wheel and repeats the operation. During each pause one of the molds 22, carried by head 21, is directly under the stream of molten glass. Thus the mold remains under the stream for a definite period, and the head is then turned until the mold which just received its charge comes directly under the plunger 44. The following mold is then under the stream receiving its'charge of molten material. In this position the plunger 44 and the press-plate are caused to descend by means of cams 40 and 41 and levers 38 and 39, respectively. The press-plate is brought .down upon the edge of the shell and holds it rigidly in position while the plunger forms the material into the desired shape and is withdrawn, after which the press plate is withdrawn. The plunger 44 does not become overheated and damaged by repeated contact with the hot glass, as cold water is continually running against the inner side of the plunger. The next movement of the gear-wheel 26 brings this mold under the punch 53 and the next mold under the plunger, and the punch is caused to descend with the plunger by means of the arm 52, which supports it. Any strings of glass which hang over the rim of the mold are cut off by the edge of the punch, which fits closely over the rim of the mold. The collar 57 bears on the edge of the shell and is pushed back against the tension of spring 58 until it uncovers the openings in the tube 54. This allows cold air to escape from the tube to cool the glass and make the particles of glass in the eyelet brittle, so that they are easily punched out by the pin 65. The collar 57 holds the shell in position while the pin is being withdrawn and is pressed down again by the spring 58 to cover the air-outlets. Another movement of the gear-wheel 26 advances each mold one step and brings the mold which was operated upon by the punch in front of the nozzle 67. While in this position the cam 36 operates to raise pins 33 33, which push the die and the completed base to the top of the mold. The current of air issuing from the nozzle 67 then blows the completed base into a trough or box. After a mold leaves the nozzle and before it comes under the stream again the operator has ample time to supply it with the base parts for another base, as there are four positions in which the mold rests while other molds are receiving a charge and being operated upon. Supplying the base parts to the molds is quickly done, as the center contact readily falls into its position in the bottom of the die, and the shell slides easily into the cylindrical chamber of the mold.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A machine for making bases for incandescent lamps comprising a reservoir for insulating material having a feed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten material flows therefrom, a mold arranged to receive the metallic parts of a base and hold them in proper relative position, means for shifting the mold intermittently into the path of the stream and maintaining it under the stream for uniform periods, means for compressing the molten material into a definite I shapein the mold,and speed-varyingdevices to adjust the dwell of the mold under the stream.

2. In a machine for making lamp-bases, in combination with means for feeding a continuously-flowing stream of molten glass, a rotary head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, means for connecting the head periodically with a powershaft .and operating to bring one of the receptacles into the stream at each movement and to hold the several receptacles under the stream a uniform length of time, a die for compressing the material in the receptacles after leaving the stream, and speed-varying devices to adjust the dwell of the receptacles under the stream.

3. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a reservoir for molten insulating material having a feed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten material flows therefrom,a rotatory head,'a plurality of molds carried by the head arranged to receive the metallic parts for the bases, an intermittent gear for turning the head intermittently to bring the molds successively into the stream and maintain each mold in the stream a predetermined time, means for compressing the molten material into a definite shape in the molds after being withdrawn from the stream, and means for clearing an opening through the base.

4. A machine for making lamp-bases, hav ing in combination with means for feeding a continuously-flowing stream of molten glass, a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, a power-shaft, an intermittent gear for connecting said head periodically with the power-shaft and arranged to bring the receptacles successively into the stream and hold each receptacle in the stream a uniform period, a die for compressing the glass in the receptacles after leaving the stream, and speed-varying devices for varying the speed of the power-shaft to adjust the dwell of the receptacles under the stream.

5. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a reservoir for molten glass having a feed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten glass flows therefrom, a rotatory head, a plurality of molds arranged to receive the metallic parts of a base and hold them in proper relative position carried by said head, an intermittent gear for turning the head to bring the molds successively into the stream and provided with means for locking the head against movement while a mold is in the stream, said gear being arranged to maintain the molds in the stream a uniform period, an automatically-operated die for compressing the glass in the molds immediately after being withdrawn from the stream, and a punch to clear an opening through the base.

6. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby arranged to hold the parts in proper position relative to each other, an intermittent gear connecting the head periodically with a powershaft, means for feeding a continuously-flowing stream of an insulating compound to the base parts while the head and power-shaft are disconnected, means for shaping the material in the receptacles after leaving the stream and forming an opening through the material to one of the base parts, and means for supplying an air-blast to remove the completed base.

7. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby arranged to hold the parts in proper position relative to each other, an intermittent gear for connectingthe head periodically with a powershaft, means for feeding insulating material to the base parts while the head and power shaft are disconnected, automatic devices for shaping the material in the receptacles, means for clearing an opening through the material to one of the base parts, and means for ejecting the completed bases from the receptacles.

8. A glass-molding machine having a rotatory head, a plurality of molds carried thereby, means for rotating the head intermittently, means for supplying each mold with a charge of molten glass, a die automatically operated to shape the glass in the molds while it is hot, and a punch operating automatically upon the glass after it has been chilled to clear an opening therethrough.

9. A machine for making lamp-bases, having a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles carried thereby arranged to receive the metallic parts of a base and hold them in proper position relative to each other, means for rotating the head intermittently, means for feeding molten glass between the base parts in each receptacle, an automatically-operated die to shape the glass in the receptacles while it is hot, and a punch operating automatically upon the glass in the receptacles after it has been chilled to clear an opening therethrough.

10. A machine for making lam p-bases, comprising a reservoir for molten insulating ma terial having a feed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten material flows therefrom, a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, means for rotating the head intermittently to bring the receptacles successively into the stream and hold each receptacle under the stream a predetermined time, an automatically-operated die to shape the material in the receptacles while hot, and a punch operating automatically upon the material in the receptacles after it has been chilled to clear an opening speed-varying devices to adjust the dwell of therethrough.

11. In aglass-molding machine, the combination with a rotatory head, a plurality of molds carried thereby, and means for feeding molten glass to each mold successively, of a die, a punch, and ejecting means, each operating on the material in different molds while another mold is receiving its charge of glass.

12. In a machine for makinglampbases,the combination of a rotatory head, aplurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, means for feeding molten insulating material to each receptacle successively, an automatic die to shape the material in the receptacles, an automatic punch to clear an opening through the bases, and means for ejecting the finished bases from the receptacles.

13. In amachine for makinglamp-bases, the combination with a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, and means for feeding molten insulating material to each receptacle successively, of a die to shape the material in the receptacles, a

punch to clear an opening through the bases,

and means for ejecting the finished bases from the receptacles, each operating on the material in different receptacles while another receptacle is receiving its charge of glass.

14:. A machine for making lamp-bases. comprising means for feeding molten insulating material in a continuo s stream, a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles for the base parts carried thereby, means for turning the head intermittently to bring the receptacles under the stream successively, and an automatic die to shape the material in the receptacles, an automatic punch to clear an open ing through the bases, and means for ejecting the finished bases, each operating upon the material in different receptacles while another receptacle is under the stream of insulating material.

15. A glass-molding apparatus comprising a supply-reservoir havinga feed-opening supplying a continuous stream of molten material, a plurality of molds intermittently shifted into the path of the stream, means for maintaining a predetermined dwell of each mold under the stream to assure a definite quantity of delivered material, and means for clearing away any portion of the glass that may hang over the top of the mold.

16. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a reservoir for insulating material having afeed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten material flows therefrom, a rotatory head, a plurality of receptacles carried thereby arranged to receive the base parts, means for turning the head to bring the receptacles successively into the stream and maintain the several receptacles under the stream for uniform periods, means for ejecting the finished bases from the receptacles and the receptacles under the stream.

- 17. In a molding-machine, the combination of a rotatory head, a series of molds carried thereby, a vertically-movable bottom for each mold, means for raising the bottom of each mold when the mold is in a definite position,

'a nozzle cooperating with the molds in this position, and means for supplying an air-blast from the nozzle to remove the finished articles.

18. In a glass-molding machine, in combination with a rotatory head and means for supplying a continuously-flowing stream of molten glass, a plurality of molds carried by said head, each mold being provided with a vertically-movable bottom, means for raising the bottom of each mold when the mold is in a definite position, a nozzle cooperating with the molds in this position, and means for supplying an air-blast from the nozzle to remove the finished articles.

19. A machine for making lamp-bases comprising a reservoir for molten glass metal having a feed-outlet open during the entire operation of the machine whereby a continuous stream of molten glass flows therefrom, a rotatory head beneath the reservoir, a plurality .of receptacles to receive the base parts carried thereby, the bottom of each receptacle being movable relatively to the sides and having a central depression in which the center contact for a base centers itself, an intermittent gear for connecting the head periodically to a power-shaft to bring the receptacles successively under the stream of molten glass, means for shaping the glass in the receptacles, means to clear an opening through the base, and means for shifting the parts of the receptacles to facilitate ejecting the finished bases.

20. In a glass-moldingmachine, a rotatory head, a plurality of molds carried thereby, means for supplying molten glass in a continuously flowing stream, means for shifting each mold under the stream successively to receive a charge of molten glass, a plunger automatically operated to compress the material inra mold that has received its charge,and an automatically-operated punch laterally displaced from the plunger adapted to clear an opening in the article.

21. In a glass-molding machine, a rotatory head, a plurality of molds carried thereby, means for supplying each mold with a charge of glass, a plunger for compressing the material in each mold, and a punch rigidly connectcd to the plunger but laterally displaced therefrom,for clearing an opening in the compressed material. 7

22. A machine for making lamp-bases,com prising a rotatory head carrying a plurality of receptacles for the base parts, means for feeding an insulating compound thereto, means for compressing the compound into a definite shape,a punch for clearing an opening through the base and means for cooling the punch.

23. A machine for making.lamp-bases,comprising a rotatory head carrying a plurality of receptacles for the base parts, means for feeding an insulating compound thereto, means for compressing the compound into a definite shape, and a punch operating on the mold after the material therein has been compressed to clear an opening through the base.

24. In a base-making machine, in combination with a mold, means for supplying insulating material to the mold and means for com pressing the material, a hollow punch having apertures near its lower end, a springpressed collar adapted to cover said apertures, and means 'for supplying cooled air under pressure to said punch.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 6th day of March, 1903.

ALFRED SWAN.

Witnesses:

S. N. WHITEHEAD, JOHN E. MITCHELL, Jr. 

